Are you a farmer, landowner, processor, manufacturer, researcher, or entrepreneur working with or interested in biofibre?
Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and North Yorkshire Council, the Biofibre Special Interest Group is an exciting initiative tasked with propelling Yorkshire's biofibre supply chain forward, unlocking the economic and environmental benefits of biofibre.
Why biofibre?
- Sustainable and eco-friendly: Crops like hemp and flax absorb significant carbon dioxide and can be grown in rotation, improving soil health and biodiversity.
- Strong, versatile, and renewable: Biofibres offer sustainable alternatives for construction materials, biocomposites, textiles, and bioenergy.
- Green growth opportunity: Yorkshire boasts 40% of the UK's hemp and flax production, making it a prime location to cultivate a thriving biofibre industry.
Benefits of joining the Biofibre Special Interest Group:
- Farmers and landowners: Explore biofibre production as a profitable rotation crop, improving soil health, carbon capture, and biodiversity.
- Processors and manufacturers: Collaborate and innovate to bridge the gap between growers and processors.
- Construction, textiles, and biocomposites: Gain insights into fibre specifications and regulatory standards to develop high-value products
- Innovators and entrepreneurs: Develop new opportunities and products from biofibres, raising market demand and production of biofibre.
How to get involved
By joining the Special Interest Group, you'll gain access to a range of events and networking opportunities, including:
- Informative seminars and workshops: Deepen your knowledge of biofibre production, processing, and market trends through sessions led by industry experts.
- Site visits: Get first-hand experience of biofibre cultivation, processing and manufacturing by visiting sites and seeing it in action.
- Networking opportunities: Connect and build relationships with key players across the biofibre supply chain at events. This is your chance to forge partnerships, explore new business opportunities, and propel your biofibre ventures forward.
- Knowledge sharing: Stay updated on the latest advancements, share best practices, and contribute to the collective understanding of biofibres.
To keep up to date with news and future events, you can complete your details using the form above or get in contact with Helen Shiels or Sara Goodhead at the Biorenewables Development Centre.
Funded by:
The Biofibre Special Interest Group is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and North Yorkshire Council.
Supported by:
The Biofibre Steering Group includes representatives from Grow Yorkshire, Elsoms Seeds, East Yorkshire Hemp, Harrison Spinks, IndiNature and SHD Composites.
Listen online
In September 2024 the Biofibre Special Interest Group welcomed John Harding from GREAT YORKSHIRE RADIO LIMITED to the office to discuss everything biofibres for Coast and County's Farming Outlook show. Listen again online, link.
Let's work together
We have worked on 1,500 bio-based projects to date
We have several ways to work with us, including business advisory programmes and self-funded commercial options. We even have the option for you to hire our state-of-the-art laboratory equipment and office space.
